Council Tax Advice

Council tax is a tax taken by local authorities on domestic properties, with almost 22 million residences in England currently liable to pay.

Despite this, there are some circumstances in which people are exempt from paying council tax on their home or are eligible for a discount on the full amount. Council tax raises money that then goes towards local services including fire services, street cleaning and more, with the basic idea that those living in a community can contribute to the funding of things that keep the community running. Collected council tax thus pays for around 25% of local government spending.

Know your rights and your council tax liability based on your situation

Many people are unsure about the rules and exemptions of paying council tax for their residence, whether they have to pay and what their money is going towards once they do. This is why our council tax overview has been created to help, with all of the information you will need and a handy overview of council tax either for those just starting out on the property ladder or those who require a more detailed council tax overview for their current situation. At Council Tax Advisors, we help with this as well as offering advice, an overview of council tax and solutions for those struggling with their council tax payments.

“I am so happy and would absolutely recommend Council Tax Advisors to anyone who is in the same situation I was. Now all my council tax worries are gone, thank you Council Tax Advisors”Hayley

Overview of Council Tax

Introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as a replacement for the unpopular Community Charge, council tax is based on the market value of a home rather than the rental value. The amount to pay is determined by the local council, with figures dependent on a variety of things such as the sum that the council have to raise and the property’s valuation band. Having said this, there are certain properties that are exempt from paying council tax, including those that are:

Occupied only by full-time students

Occupied only by people under 18

Accommodation for armed forces

Unoccupied due to major repair work or structural alteration

Unoccupied after someone on the estate has died

Unoccupied and repossessed by a mortgage lender or liable trustee in bankruptcy

But, after your local council has collected council tax from residents, where does the money go? The way in which council tax is spent by councils depends to some degree on how much they collect, with rises in tax often due to shortfalls brought about by cuts, and taxes are thus often raised to compensate for this. However, much of the revenue taken from council tax is used for schools funding, refuse and recycling collections, libraries and leisure centres to be used by residents in the area. To get a wider overview of council tax and council tax bands, you can simply read the council tax overviews across this section of our website.

Guide to your Council Tax Band

The amount you need to pay depends on which council tax band your residence falls in, ranging from council tax band A for homes valued up to £40,000 to council tax band H for those valued over £320,000. In order to find out which council tax band your property belongs in, you can find information about valuation elsewhere in our council tax overview. A brief council tax overview for your council tax band valuation in England is:

Band A – up to £40,000 (£845 average)

Band B – £40,001 to £52,000 (£986 average)

Band C – £52,001 to £68,000 (£1,127 average)

Band D – £68,001 to £88,000 (£1,268 average)

Band E – £88,001 to £120,000 (£1,550 average)

Band F – £120,001 to £160,000 (£1,832 average)

Band G – £160,001 to £320,000 (£2,113 average)

Band H – £320,001 and above (£2,536 average)

“You assured me of my legal rights. It gave me the confidence and wherewithal to stand up to the overwhelming pressure of being scared about a knock on the door. At last, I knew how to handle the situation.”Lance

WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BEST COUNCIL TAX OVERVIEW SERVICE

If you are looking for an overview of council tax, then this is the best place to find information, advice and a clear, thorough council tax overview to help clarify things. There have been many changes made to council tax over recent months and years, causing many to fall into arrears when benefits have been cut or support has been reduced, and this is why it is important for every resident across the UK to fully understand their council tax by reading information such as that detailed in our overview of council tax. This will tell them which council tax band they fall into and what discounts they may be eligible for. You can find all of this and more in our council tax overview, by simply visiting the relevant pages across the website.